UN will return its observers to Kodor Ravine

The monitoring was broken off in mid-June after the abduction of three UN observers in the Kodor Ravine who were later freed under pressure from Georgian authorities. Participants and organizers of the crime have not yet been identified. The safety of UN observers in the ravine has been the responsibility of Russian peace-keepers.

On the basis of information from Georgia's Ministry for Special Assignments, Abkhazia and Russia are insisting on the opening in the ravine in the area of the Georgia-Abkhazia zone of conflict of a full-time post of Russian peace-keepers. Otherwise, the safety of UN observers will remain in doubt. But Georgia opposes the opening of a full-time post in the ravine. On the basis of information from the UN office in Georgia, the UN favors the opening of a Russian post.

The UN office confirmed the intention of the UN to renew its monitoring of the ravine by its armed observers. The exact date of the resumption of monitoring has not been chosen, but it is expected to come before the start of winter.